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Deputy First Minister @JohnSwinney: "Good afternoon, everybody. Thanks for very much joining us again today. I'll start with the usual update on today's statistics."
JS: "The total number of positive cases that were reported yesterday was 966. That represents 4.2% of the total number of tests and takes the total number of confirmed cases in Scotland to 98,686."
JS: "258 of the new cases were in Greater Glasgow & Clyde, 166 in Lanarkshire, and 117 in Lothian. The remaining cases were spread across the other mainland health board areas."
JS: "I can also confirm that 965 people are currently in hospital - that is a decrease of 17 from yesterday. 65 people are in intensive care, which is 4 less than yesterday."
JS: "Finally, sadly, 41 additional deaths have been registered in the past 24 hours of a patient who first tested positive over the previous 28 days."
JS: "That takes the total number of deaths under this measurement to 3,889."
JS: "Each one of those deaths was of course of a unique individual whose loss is a source of grief, and I extend my condolences to all those who've lost a loved one during this pandemic."
JS: "I'm joined today by Professor Jason Leitch, our National Clinical Director, who will help me in answering questions from journalists shortly."
JS: "Before that, there are three main items I would like t update you on today. The first concerns international travel. Very often on a Friday we provide an update on the quarantine exemption list."
JS: "Following our usual risk assessments I can confirm that the Scottish Government has not made any change to that list this week."
JS: "As you may be aware the UK Government announced last night a number of changes to the quarantine rules in England. Those changes exempt certain categories of people, working in certain sectors, from the requirement to self-isolate."
JS: "I want to emphasise these are changes that apply only in England, and that they do not apply here in Scotland. The quarantine requirements in this country are unchanged."
JS: "Anyone travelling to Scotland from a place that is not on the exemption list will be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return."
JS: "The Scottish Government will explore the need for any sectoral exemptions at our next review of the international travel regulations, which is to be completed by the 14th December."
JS: "As we do that, we will need to of course consider very carefully the impact on public health. In general, though, our advice in relation to international travel remains the same."
JS: "The Scottish Government is continuing to advise very strongly against any unnecessary travel overseas right now."
JS: "My second update for today concerns additional support for the childcare sector. The Scottish Government has today announced the extension of our rates relief scheme for nurseries."
JS: "The scheme provides full non-domestic rates relief for premises that are used entirely or primarily as day nurseries. This year alone it is estimated to have saved eligible nurseries around an average of £12,000."
JS: "The rates relief scheme was due to expire in March. Today we've announced we're extending it for a further two years until June 2023."
JS: "We hope this helps to ensure childcare can remain as affordable as possible. Day nurseries, like so many businesses, have faced continuing financial pressures as a result of the pandemic."
JS: "However they play a critical part in supporting the learning and the development of young children, and they will also be especially important, as our economy recovers from the crisis, in allowing parents and carers to work, study, and to learn new skills."
JS: "So my hope is that today's announcement, by providing further certainty for the sector, will be good news for day nurseries in particular and also good news for families across the country."
JS: "The third and final item I want to cover today relates to the good news that we've heard this week about a vaccine."
JS: "Specifically, I want to raise a couple of points about our vaccine implementation plan. As the First Minister stated earlier this week, we expect the first vaccines very soon, which will allow vaccinations to begin on Tuesday of next week."
JS: "Obviously we will start by vaccinating those who will vaccinate everybody else. We will then follow the independent advice that we have received from the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation."
JS: "They have recommended prioritising those with the greatest clinical need, specifically frontline health workers, residents and workers in care homes for older people, and people over the age of 80."
JS: "These will be the first groups to receive the vaccine. With regards to the Pfizer vaccine, there are conditions attached to its authorisation which makes it difficult to transport to some locations, such as care homes."
JS: "We are in the process of planning how that can be done safely and effectively, and we plan for the vaccine to start reaching care homes from 14th December."
JS: "Provided that the volume of vaccines being delivered allows - and this'll be influenced by other vaccines gaining approval like Pfizers - we aim to have the first phase of the vaccination programme completed by spring."
JS: "Clearly, if there are delays in supplies that will impact our timings, but we will move as swiftly and effectively as vaccine supplies allow."
JS: "The joint committee sets out a clear order of priority for vaccine delivery, and we will follow that as much as it is practical."
JS: "The priority list they identified represents around 99% of preventable mortality from Covid-19."
JS: "Once the vaccination of these groups is completed we will seek to vaccinate the rest of the adult population as, while the risk of mortality is much lower in people under the age of 50, there is still a serious risk of debilitating illness."
JS: "The very fact that vaccinations in Scotland are scheduled to start in 4 days time is fantastic news. For all of us, it brings real hope that an end to the pandemic is in sight."
JS: "However the end is not here yet, and it won't be for some time. And so for the moment, the fact that vaccination is a real prospect should encourage all of us to do everything we can to keep ourselves and all our loved ones safe."
JS: "The best way of doing that as ever is to stick to the current rules and guidelines, so I'll end as usual by highlighting some of the key points from those guidelines."
JS: "If you're in any doubt about what those rules are in your local authority area you can of course use the postcode checker on the Scottish Government's website."
JS: "However nobody outside of Orkney, Shetland, and the Western Isles, should be visiting each other's homes except for very specific purposes such as childcare."
JS: "If you do meet people from other households, either outdoors or in public indoor places, the limit is 6 people from a maximum of 2 households. In addition, avoid car sharing if you can."
JS: "Work from home if you can. As we move into winter and the weather worsens there's all the more reason to do that. Download the Protect Scotland app if you are able to do so."
JS: "Finally, remember FACTS - the five key rules we all can use to reduce our risk of getting the virus or of passing it on."
JS: "Face coverings, avoid crowded places, clean your hands and hard surfaces, keep two metres distance from people in other households, and self-isolate and get tested immediately if you have any of the symptoms of Covid."
JS: "By sticking to these rules we will protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities. We will also protect our National Health Service, and we can save lives."
JS: "Thank you once again for all you are doing in this national effort."
